
Chest freezers are also more energy-efficient than upright models, so you save in the long run too. However, you do need the room to fit a chest freezer in, while upright models take up a lot less floor space.
Which is better an upright or chest freezer?
Upright freezers:
- Upright freezers are easier to organize because they have shelves.
- Upright freezers take up less space. ...
- They usually come in a variety of finishes.
- Chest freezers tend to be around $100 cheaper than upright versions.
- Though they are convenient, the temperature of door shelves are often warmer than the inside of the freezer.
Do chest freezers hold more food than an upright?
It’s an excellent option for people with limited space or those who want to save on energy costs by buying their own power source. Chest freezers are also popular because they can hold more frozen food than other types of freezers such as upright freezers.
Is it worth buying a chest freezer?
Pros: Chest freezers are wide open, except for their removable hanging baskets or, sometimes, dividers, so they offer more usable space than uprights. These models also tend to be slightly more energy efficient and are less likely to cause freezer burn on food. Because they don’t self-defrost like uprights, the temperature stays consistently lower.
Where should I put my chest freezer?
Where should I put my chest freezer? Be aware that custom appliances can be pricey. Other possible locations for placing a freezer include the kitchen, utility room, basement, garage, and laundry room. When space is limited, you may want to consider locating a freezer in a guest room or outdoor shed.
How many cubic feet are in a chest freezer?
Why does a chest freezer keep the temperature constant?
How much space does an upright freezer take?
How to determine what size freezer you need?
Does air circulate in chest freezer?
Does extra freezer space save money?
Is a chest freezer cheaper than an upright freezer?
See 4 more
About this website

What is more efficient a chest freezer or an upright?
According to Consumer Reports, chest freezers have around 20 percent more usable space than upright freezers. When it comes to upright freezer vs chest freezer energy usage, chest freezers use up less energy than upright freezers, providing some relief to both the planet and your wallet.
Do upright freezers work as well as chest freezer?
There's really very little difference between the two form factors when it comes to energy efficiency, so decide whether a chest freezer or upright freezer is better for your needs first, then look for an energy-efficient freezer of your preferred type.
Which type of freezer is most efficient?
compact chest freezerBased on the actual power consumption of 354 freezers, the most efficient freezer type is compact chest freezer, followed by deep freezer. Standard sized chest freezer takes the third spot.
Is it worth buying a chest freezer?
Chest freezers are the more energy-efficient and frugal purchase, and performance-wise, they preserve your foods longer. Upright freezers prove to be the lower-maintenance and easier-to-organize counterpart, with auto-defrost, storage accessories and a more accessible configuration.
What are disadvantages of chest freezer?
You'll need to make sure you have a large enough footprint, along with enough headroom to fully open the door. Hard to Reach Food. Chest freezers require you to bend and reach for items, which can be a strain on those who are shorter or have mobility issues. It's also tough to reach things that get stuck at the bottom.
Why are upright freezers more expensive than chest freezers?
Upright freezers are more expensive than chest models yet provide less usable storage capacity; a difference of about 10 to 15 percent less. Prices are influenced by capacity and storage systems, as well as convenience features such as auto or manual defrost.
Do chest freezers use a lot of electricity?
An ENERGY STAR certified chest freezer uses about 215 kWh of electricity and costs less than $30 per year to run, while an ENERGY STAR certified upright freezer uses about 395 kWh of electricity and costs less than $50 per year to run.
Which freezers last the longest?
Upscale or luxury freezer models typically last longer than units without top-of-the-line parts. Additionally, mini freezers might not last as long as full-size home freezers or refrigerator-freezers.
How long do chest freezers last?
On average, the life expectancy of a refrigerator-freezer or chest freezer is 16 years. Freezers typically last anywhere from 12 to 20 years. Along with gas and electric ranges, freezers tend to be the longest-lasting kitchen appliances. But that's not a guarantee!
Are chest freezers cheaper than upright freezers?
Chest freezers tend to be around $100 cheaper than upright versions. Though they are convenient, the temperature of door shelves are often warmer than the inside of the freezer. Uprights are typically noisier than chest freezers.
What brand is best for chest freezer?
Our Top PicksBest Overall: Midea Chest Freezer.Best for Garages: GE Energy Star Garage Ready Chest Freezer.Best Small for Garages: Danby Chest Freezer.Best Portable: Whynter 85-Quart Portable Fridge and Freezer.Best Small Capacity: Avanti Chest Freezer.Best Large Capacity: Frigidaire Chest Freezer.
What do I need to know about buying a chest freezer?
Factors to Consider When Buying a FreezerSize. Most people buying a standalone freezer will already have some freezer space as part of their refrigerator and are looking to expand. ... Cost. ... Energy Use. ... Amount of Use. ... Temperature and Climate Classification. ... Organization Options. ... Noise Level. ... Blackout Performance.More items...•
Do upright freezers work in cold garages?
The Issue with Using Freezers in the Garage Most standard freezers are not designed to be used in extreme weather conditions like an unheated garage. In extremely hot conditions, freezers have to work extra hard to keep items frozen. In cold temperatures below freezing, freezers can shut off.
Which shelf of an upright freezer is coldest?
The Coldest Spot: The rear center is the coldest spot in a freezer. This is the place to store your ice cream maker's canister so it's thoroughly frozen and ready for the next batch of homemade ice cream! The Warmest Spot: In most freezers the door shelves are the warmest spot.
5 Best Freezers of 2022 - Upright and Chest Freezer Reviews
The Kenmore KLCo19MWD 18.5 CF chest freezer is super spacious — great for stockpiling your cooking essentials — and can be used indoors or stored in a garage. It features a manual defrost and ...
What is the difference between a chest freezer and an upright freezer?
The main difference between upright and chest freezers is orientation. Upright freezers are sometimes called stand up freezers because they are more vertical. This gives you a tall storage space usually featuring shelves for easy organization. Chest freezers lay horizontally and are great for extra large items or deep freezer storage but can be more difficult to access.
What is a chest freezer?
Chest freezers lay horizontally and are great for extra large items or deep freezer storage but can be more difficult to access. Which one is right for you depends on your needs such as where it will be located, what you plan to store and a few other considerations. Read on to decide whether you should bring home a chest vs. an upright freezer.
How many cubic feet of food can a chest freezer hold?
Both upright and chest freezer sizes can be found with capacities ranging from around 3 to 25 cubic feet. As a general rule of thumb, each cubic foot can hold approximately 25 lbs of food.
How many cubic feet does a Maytag freezer have?
Maytag offers large upright freezers with up to 20 cu bic feet of space and large chest freezers with capacities up to 22 cubic feet. Learn more about freezer sizes and ...
How much food can a cubic foot hold?
As a general rule of thumb, each cubic foot can hold approximately 25 lbs of food. Here are some general ranges to help you choose whether a small, medium or large freezer is best. Compact and small freezers: Compact upright or chest freezers are usually available with 3-5 cubic feet of space inside and small freezers offer around 5-9 cubic feet.
How to store small items in a freezer?
Store smaller items: Upright freezers usually come with shelves, drawers, racks or door compartments. If you freeze small items like frozen dinners, packaged meats or produce, these interior features can help you stay organized instead of piling food up and losing track of what’s on the bottom.
What is the most important consideration when buying a freezer?
Freezer capacity might be the most important consideration when buying a freezer. Consider the size of your household and what kind of storage you need. If you have a small household and will use the freezer for overflow from your refrigerator freezer, you might only need a small chest or upright freezer. If you have more people at home and want ...
What is the best chest freezer?
If you ask us, the best chest freezer is the Whirlpool® 22 Cu. Ft. Chest Freezer - White (WZC3122DW). There's always room for your frozen favorites inside this 22-cubic-foot capacity chest freezer. Spills are a snap to wipe up with smooth, rounded Easy Clean Corners, and you'll be able to keep food safe in this chest freezer with the secure key lock. Plus, three large storage baskets give you more options to organize your frozen favorites.
How long do chest freezers last?
For reference, chest freezers are expected to last between 15 and 12 years whereas upright freezers have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
How much storage space does a chest freezer have?
In terms of storage capacity, both types of freezers are typically capped at 25 cubic feet; however, there are more 25-cubic-foot chest freezers than there are larger upright freezers in the market, so it could be generally said that chest freezers boast more storage space.
Do chest freezers overtake upright freezers?
Many product experts would open that, yes, the benefits of chest freezers may overtake those of upright freezers. Compared to their upright counterparts, chest freezers are more energy-efficient, have a longer life expectancy, are less expensive to purchase and maintain, have more usable storage space, and keep food fresher for longer in the event of a power outage.
Does the Danby chest freezer have a defrost function?
The smart interior liner is designed for quick and easy cleaning, and moving the appliance is almost effortless due to the two rear rollers—but best of all, this Danby chest freezer won’t cost you a pretty penny.
Does Whirlpool chest freezer have a defrost drain?
Most conveniently, this Whirlpool freezer has a defrost drain with a hose adapter so you can defrost your freezer with ease—just attach the hose adapter to the defrost drain to easily remove water when preparing to defrost and clean your chest freezer.
Do chest freezers need headroom?
For chest freezers, you will also need to consider headroom above the appliance to lift the top. Similarly, the door of an upright freezer must have enough room to swing open without obstruction.
How much less storage space does an upright freezer have?
Less Flexible Storage Space. Since upright freezers have up to 15 percent less storage space than chest models, storing larger items can be difficult. It may be hard to stash things like large cuts of beef or venison, whole turkeys and other odd-shaped items.
What can you use a chest freezer for?
Huge, Open Interior. Since chest freezers have so much storage space, they are a great option for storing large or awkwardly shaped items.
How long do upright freezers last?
Uprights tend to have a shorter lifespan than chest freezers. Chest freezers can last up to 20 years while uprights generally last up to 15. Hopefully you don’t have any frozen pizzas or gallons of ice cream hanging around that long!
How long can you keep frozen food in a chest freezer?
Stays Frozen 2-3 Days Without Power. Chest freezers can keep food frozen for up to three days during a power outage.
What does "auto defrost" mean on an upright freezer?
(Any model labeled “Frost Free” or “auto defrost” means you shouldn’t have any nasty ice build-up.)
How long does food stay frozen?
Stays Frozen Only 1-2 Days Without Power. If your power goes out, food will spoil faster when it’s in an upright freezer. It will generally stay frozen for one to two days, which may or may not be long enough, depending on where you live. Shorter Lifespan. Uprights tend to have a shorter lifespan than chest freezers.
Why are nachos so good?
Nachos you can feel good about! This meaty topping has less fat and sodium than typical nacho beef because you use lean meat and make your own seasoning. The versatile dish is a tasty go-to for a party. —Carol Betz, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
What is the difference between a chest freezer and an upright freezer?
Chest freezers sit horizontally on the floor and are deep in comparison to upright freezers. This may be ideal when adding food items into it, but it also means that you will have to dig for older items. On the other hand, upright freezers look a lot like refrigerators.
What is the benefit of a chest freezer?
One of the benefits of using a chest freezer, however, is the ability to fit in larger items. The lack of shelves make it easier to fit in a single large item such as a turkey, and many chest freezers have up to 20% more usable space than an upright freezer. So, if you plan on storing large items, this type of freezer gives you the most utility.
Why do chest freezers keep food?
This means that you can theoretically leave things frozen for longer periods of time without issue.This is because of their need for manual defrosting; there is less air circulating through the freezer, which keeps freezer burn to a minimum. In addition, there is no food stored on the door, which can be a different temperature than the interior.
What type of freezer has shelving?
So, if you plan on storing large items, this type of freezer gives you the most utility. Upright freezers have shelving compartments in them, much like a fridge. This provides an easy way for items to be neatly organized on different levels throughout the freezer.
Why do chest freezers have wire baskets?
Chest freezers have only a wire basket inside them to provide organization, which means that other food items can become buried under one another. Also bending, lifting, and moving is required to find what you’re looking for.
How long do upright freezers last?
Chest freezers are expected to last between 15 and 20 years, while upright freezers have a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years.
Why do chest freezers have a locking seal?
Chest freezers use an airtight locking seal at the top to keep the food inside fresh and frozen. Due to this, it also means that less energy is used to keep the container cool. Upright freezers have smaller gaps in the door mechanism, which can take more energy to keep the food cold.
Which is better: upright freezer or chest freezer?
Upright Freezer. If you can afford the extra cost and you love to keep everything organized in its place—an upright may be best for you. Upright freezers are more expensive than chest models yet provide less usable storage capacity; a difference of about 10 to 15 percent less.
What is a chest freezer?
Chest Freezer. Chest freezers have a door on top of the freezer that you lift when you need to use it. They are often long and lower to the ground than an upright freezer. However, there are mini-chest freezers that may need less floor space and a bit more vertical space. Though you will find a majority of chest freezers that have a white finish, ...
What is the noise of an upright freezer?
As the freezer cycles, you'll hear normal noises like whooshing and whining several times throughout the day. The compressor also makes infrequent noises.
How long does it take to defrost a chest freezer?
Although certain chest models have automatic defrost or are frost-free, most chest freezers are manual defrost, a task which requires several hours or a whole day to accomplish. However, there are fewer components inside a manual defrost chest freezer that will need maintenance.
How long does a freezer last unplugged?
1 In fact, during a power outage or a household move to another locale, as long as the freezer lid is not open, an unplugged chest freezer can keep the contents frozen for two or even three days, depending on the frozen food quantity.
What is the best feature of an upright freezer?
Probably the best convenience feature of an upright freezer is the ability to better organize the frozen foods, making it easier to monitor and rotate contents to keep frozen foods current.
How many cubic feet are in a freezer?
Both styles of freezers are generally sold in 5- to 25- cubic-foot sizes, but there are capacity differences in the same size chest and upright models of freezers. It's also easier to find the mid-range freezer sizes in stores and not all freezers are available in self-defrost models —something you'll want to confirm.
What are the lights on an upright freezer?
These freezers also typically have LED lights that illuminate the interior for visibility.
Can you clean a chest freezer if it is power out?
That means you’ll need to be prepared to squat and hun ch over to clean your chest freezer out. In the event of a power-cut, keeping the freezer shut will maintain sub-zero temperatures for a while, but chest freezers are tough to clear out if the power goes out for long periods.
Can upright freezers be used as a refrigerator?
The top models can even be converted to refrigerators and have LCD display screens that control the interior temperature. Of course, they're no substitute for the best refrigerators.
Do chest freezers take up more space?
Chest freezers are shorter and wider than upright models and take up more floor space. You need to bend down in order to put food in and take it out, which isn’t great if you have higher mobility requirements. Plus, chest freezers also need to be manually defrosted, while upright models have auto defrost options.
Is a chest freezer cheaper than an upright freezer?
Chest freezers tend to be a little cheaper to purchase and to run compared with their upright counterparts, though you might be swayed by the organizational prowess of upright models.
Can you store food in an upright freezer?
Whether you opt for an upright or chest model, these freezers are united by the fact that they both slow down bacterial growth thanks to their extremely cold temperatures, meaning they can store food for years if needed (depending on the food in question). What’s more, upright and chest freezers tend to be used a little less than integrated freezers, so your food will keep better. So whether you want to store leftovers or stash ice cream, you’ll have space for it all.
Can you separate out a chest freezer?
You might already associate chest freezers with disorganization, as their designs can be thought of as more difficult to separate out. However, newer models seek to tackle this by including bins and drawers that are sometimes even color-coded, so you can arrange your food inside. The best models even have interior LED lighting to prevent you from rustling around in the darkness, so you can see the space you need to sort out. This also makes your food easy to find in a full freezer, especially if it's in a utility area.
How to tell between an upright and a chest freezer?
Right away, it’s not difficult to tell both freezers apart—an upright freezer, as its name implies, stands vertically, possessing a front-opening door and interior shelving for food storage, whereas a chest freezer typically sits lower to the ground, has a lift-up door, and contains baskets (not shelves) for food storage.
Why do chest freezers use less energy?
This is largely because chest freezers have an airtight seal at the top to keep the food inside fresh. Ultimately, the airtight locking seal means that less energy is required to keep the container cool.
How long does a Frigidaire freezer keep food frozen?
The Frigidaire FFFU16F2VW freezer model keeps food frozen for at least two days in the event of a power outage, thanks to its superior tight seal that locks in cold air. Meanwhile, the EvenTemp™ cooling system constantly circulates cold air throughout the freezer cavity with smart sensing technology that adjusts airflow to maintain a uniform temperature.
How much storage does an upright freezer have?
That said, the storage capacity of an upright freezer is capped at a generous 25 cubic feet —the same as a chest freezer.
How long do chest freezers last?
Chest freezers are expected to last between 15 and 20 years while upright freezers have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
What is an upright freezer?
As previously mentioned, the configuration of an upright freezer resembles that of a mini fridge with a front-opening door and interior shelving. In terms of installation, an upright freezer must have enough room for the door to swing open without obstruction. Overall, upright freezers are favored for their convenient configuration, as it enables easy access to your food inventory in addition to effortless cleanup and maintenance.
Is the Frigidaire chest freezer energy efficient?
Plus, the easily adjustable temperature controls let you choose the right settings for your frozen items. What’s more, the Frigidaire FFFC09M1RW freezer is over 22 percent more energy efficient than the brand’s 2013 models, making the case that innovation in Frigidaire’s line of chest freezers never stops.
What are the pros and cons of a chest freezer?
Pros: Smaller footprint than its equivalent size in the chest freezer. Easier to organize. Shelves and bins in the door can often be adjusted. Option to use manual or self-defrost. Come in different finishes such as slate or stainless steel. Cons: The door doesn’t stay as cold as the rest of the freezer.
Does Ge have a deep freezer?
GE does it again! And not only did they take the top 3 ranks on Consumer Reports in best overall freezers, but they’re also all deep freezers! So if you’re in the market for a great one, you’ll know just where to look since they offer an option for every budget and space in mind.
Is a chest freezer better than a stand up freezer?
It’s pretty clear our team loves their stand-up freezers! They proved to be the easiest to organize, but Lina and Lisanne’s votes for a chest freezer proved that stashing bulk food in the deep freezers is easier and overall they can be more affordable and better at keeping foods cold.
How many cubic feet are in a chest freezer?
Generally, chest and upright freezers are available in four size ranges. Compact units are 5 cubic feet and under, small units are 5 to 9 cubic feet, medium units are 12 to 18 cubic feet and large units are more than 18 cubic feet. To determine which size you need, multiply the number of people in your family by 2.5 cubic feet.
Why does a chest freezer keep the temperature constant?
The temperature in a chest freezer stays consistent because it doesn't have a self-defrost system. Here's how to defrost a chest freezer. Air doesn't circulate as much in a chest freezer. This helps prevent freezer burn better than uprights.
How much space does an upright freezer take?
A 22-cubic-foot chest freezer uses a rectangle floor space of 2 feet by 6 feet, while an upright 22-cubic-foot freezer only takes up 2.5 feet by 2.5 feet of floor space. They usually come in a variety of finishes.
How to determine what size freezer you need?
To determine which size you need, multiply the number of people in your family by 2.5 cubic feet. The answer will tell you what size freezer you need. For example, my family of four needs a unit that is around 10 cubic feet.
Does air circulate in chest freezer?
Air doesn't circulate as much in a chest freezer. This helps prevent freezer burn better than uprights.
Does extra freezer space save money?
Extra freezer space comes at a cost, but it can help you save money in the long run. I like to take advantage of sales on meats and vegetables and then freeze them to use later. Many times, I end up buying way more than my refrigerator freezer can hold.
Is a chest freezer cheaper than an upright freezer?
Chest freezers tend to be around $100 cheaper than upright versions. Though they are convenient, the temperature of door shelves are often warmer than the inside of the freezer. Uprights are typically noisier than chest freezers. Now playing:
